James O'Connor set to take on Springboks

CAPE TOWN: Former South Africa coach Nick Mallett will take charge of a World XV made up European-based club players in a game against the Springboks in their build-up to next year's World Cup.

New Zealand internationals Hosea Gear and Carl Hayman, Australians James O'Connor, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell and Frenchmen Julien Bonnaire and Francois Trinh-Duc were named on a list of early acceptances for the match on June 7 in Cape Town.

Springbok World Cup winner BJ Botha and Toulon-based England back-rower Steffon Armitage are also among confirmed participants, the South African Rugby Football Union said on Monday.

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer will have a full-strength squad available for the match against a team made up from the major European leagues as he prepares for the World Cup in England.

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South Africa will play 14 games this year before a shortened, four-game 2015 Rugby Championship provides the final warm-up before the World Cup.

Reuters

7 comments so far

Sounds like a World Second XV.

Commenter

Bushranger

Location

Sydney

Date and time

April 08, 2014, 11:06AM

I am not happy that there were no Tongans chosen in the side. We have some great up and coming Rugby players. Mallett has to find a place for Suliasi Taufalele. I'm happy for James O'Connor though - he deserves a chance. Go Tonga Go!!

Commenter

John Tupou

Location

The Stadium

Date and time

April 08, 2014, 12:04PM

J - I've just googled Suliasi Taufalele and I found that he is a development rugby player for the Chiefs. I think he has to displace the current Chiefs' hookers to be taken seriously this year or the year after, ie if he doesn't desert the Chiefs for Japan or Europe in the next year or so.

Commenter

Akari

Date and time

April 08, 2014, 2:26PM

They should have at least one representative in the side from all rugby world cup nations, as much as i want them to be a capable team, i would like to see some diversity and participation from more countries outside the top 5 or so.

Commenter

slurms

Date and time

April 08, 2014, 12:32PM

John, with all due respect the current batch of Tongans aren't good enough for the world 15 - maybe in a few years but I can't see them knocking any of the other stars out the team

Commenter

Ronan

Location

Lansdowne Road

Date and time

April 08, 2014, 12:38PM

Couldn't be worse than those two legends in their own eyes, Giteau and O'Connor. Isn't it time we just forgot about these two for once and for all. They both were not good for our team and it has taken a long time to expunge the damage they did.

Commenter

RTP

Location

Sawtell

Date and time

April 08, 2014, 4:59PM

Suliasi Taufalele?? John I'm Tongan too but I haven't heard that fella on international test level.